Sound-operated toy



Patented June 22, 1948 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE SOUND-OPERATED TOY Harry W. Noyes, West Haven, Conn.

Application June 13, 1946, Serial No. 676,544

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improvement in sound-operated toys, that is, a, toy which is operated by the action of sound upon a vibratory surface, and particularly to toys operated by breaking an electric current.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and attractive toy, including a movable object which is propelled by a spring-actuated lever, which lever is released by breaking a circuit through a battery and an electromagnet by the action of sound.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig; 1 is a, front view of the toy;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side view, on a larger scale than Fig. 2, with a portion of the side wall broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the switchbracket, detached; and

Fig. 6 is a, perspective view of the switch.

For the purpose of illustration, the housing I is the representation of a fire-department house with a front doorway I I'. One side wall I2 of the housing is formed from a thin piece of plywood or other suitable material, to act as a sounding board.

Near the top of the rear wall I3 and secured thereto, is a bracket I4 in which is mounted an operating-lever I which extends downwardly in front of an electromagnet I5 which is also mounted on the rear wall I3.

The upper end of the lever I5 extend-s above the bracket I4 to form an arm I'I to which is attached a spring I8, the lower end of which is secured to the said rear wall I3 above the magnet I5. The bracket I4 is formed with a nger i9 with which the spring I8 will contact when the lever` I5 is released. Also mounted on the rear wall I3 between contacts 20 and 2l', is a battery cell 22 which is held in place by a clip 23.

Secured to the outside of the side wall I2 is a switch-bracket 24 on which is hung a switch 25 having a lip 2E at its lower end to contact with the ends of wires 2l and 28 which extend through the side wall I2. The wire 2'I extends into connection with the upper end of the battery cell 22 through the contact 20, and the wire 2B extends into contact with the lever-bracket I4 and hence is in electric contact with the lever I5. The end of the magnet wire 29 extends into contact with the lower end of the battery cell 22 through the contact 2|.

Supported by a bracket 30 secured to the inside of the front wall 3l, above the doorway II, is a bell 32 in position to be struck by a hammer 33 suspended from a transverse rod 34 in the path of movement of the lever I5.

On the floor 35 are guideways 36 and 31 to direct a wheeled toy 38, here representing a piece of fire-department apparatus, the rear end of which is adapted to move the lever I5 into contact with the electromagnet IB and so close the circuit.

When thus arranged, a shout or concussion directed toward the face of the side wall I2 will cause that wall to vibrate suiiiciently to jar the switch 25 out oi contact with the wires 21 and 28, or either of them, and so break the circuit and release the lever I5 from the magnet I6 and allow it to move forwardly under the action of the spring I8 and thus eject the toy. At the same time, the lever I5 will hit the bell-hammer 33 and throw it against the bell 32` As the spring I8 acts to move the lever I5 forward, it comes in contact with the lip I9, thus momentarily arresting the tension in that direction on the lever, allowing the said lever to swing slightly backwardly again extending the spring, and to again be thrown forwardly against the hammer 33, to cause the bell to again sound.

The invention may be carried out in other specic ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and al1 changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claim are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

The combination with a housing having a vibra- 10 Number with a finger to Contact with the said spring, whereby the action of said spring is checked.

HARRY W. NOYES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,279,831 Berger Sept. 24, 1918 

